158 The Dog Book 



of the dog to flush the bird, to pay every attention to the dog. "Steady" him 

 as you pass him and move slowly and with caution yourself, and finally when 

 the bird flushes, turn at once to the dog with a hand raised warningly and 

 "to-ho" sharply if he is the least unsteady. If he stands staunchly, be 

 lavish with your praise and show that he has done the right thing. 



Make haste slowly in thus initiating the dog to game, for it is the vital 

 point in the dog's education, and when you feel assured that he is as steady 

 as you can make him, take the gun for the final test. Presumably you have 

 made yourself aware, by letting him hear a gun fired that he is not gunshy 

 and that all your labour has not been expended upon a dog that could never 

 be used. Having secured a point, go forward to flush and shoot to kill. 

 This is rather a trying moment, for the effect of the shot on the bird and the 

 sound on the dog have to be noted almost simultaneously. If the bird drops, 

 quickly note the whereabouts and at once turn to hold the dog steady if 

 inclined to break shot, holding him in check by word and signal. If he is 

 steady, then tell him to " find " and go with him so as to be near at hand when 

 he picks up the bird and take it quickly from him, as the first bird must not 

 be mangled in the retrieving. This done successfully, the dog has fully 

 rewarded you for the labour and time spent on his education. What he 

 learns after that is experience, and if he is a stout, willing dog he will continue 

 •to improve, using his own intelligence toward perfecting himself, and become 

 a companion you may well be proud of. 



The last lesson to learn is backing, and this of course calls for another 

 dog. Select a well trained, reliable one and cast him off, followed by the 

 puppy. The old dog will likely make for probable finds from his better 

 knowledge of the habits of the game, and as soon as he is on point call in the 

 puppy, and, taking him toward the old dog, let him see him and then hold 

 him with the "to-ho." Be absolutely sure he sees the other dog on point 

 and that he is steady before going past him to shoot. Keep him steady at 

 the back, then go on, flush and kill. Still holding him steady, send the old 

 dog for the bird. Another way is to get a friend to make use of his dog as 

 the one to be backed, and when the puppy has been made to stand steady 

 let the old dog's owner go on, flush, shoot and send in his dog to retrieve, 

 thus permitting the handler of the puppy to give it his undivided attention. 

 Backing is a lesson which should be taught carefully and thoroughly, as it 

 is something many dogs fail in and displays more than anything, perhaps, 

 the perfectly broken dog. 



